Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-01-26
THE RAILROADS. TURN.
The ID. Il p. Road Asks an ImjunctiO
10 Prevent Harassing Suits n Law.

The b. e p. Road Asks an Injunction
70 Prevent Harassing Suits n Law.
The Baltimore and Potomac railroad company
has, by its attorney, Mr.. Enoch Totten, filed bill
in equity against Charles B. Church, James E.
Morgan and others for an injunction to restrain
the defendants from prosecuting actions at law
against complainant, for a decree establishing
and confirming to complainant the right to main-
tain and use the tracks, branches, &C., in South
Washington; that IL defendants are entitled to
damages, the amounts be ascertained and deter
mined, and that the rights Of all parties may be
fully defined, &C.
OF complainant, by which it was authorized to
construct and maintain a railroad by way OF X
street, Virginia and Maryland avenues, and asserts
that Virginia and Maryland avenues are the prop
erty OF the United states under the agreements
with the original proprietOrs.
The bill further states that the defendants are,
or claim to be- owners OF lots Of ground adjoining
Virginia avenue and Maryland avenue along the
line OF the railroad, and they have Instituted ac
lions at law against complainant, because COM
plainant, as they alIege, In maintaining and ope-
rating its railroad on said avenues, loads and
unloads cars upon the public streets creates noise
consequence their lots OF lands and the buildings
thereon are much deprecated In value, for which
they demand large sums as damages.
The bill gives history OF the suits and list OF
actions as follows: VIM. N. Dalton claiming
5000 damages; VIM. II. Beall, 5000; Henry NJ.
knight, $4,000; Chas. c. Anderson, 5000; Susan
Chas. B. church, &c. OO JAS. E Morgan. $4,000;
VIM. 7. walker, 10000; VIM. I. Walker and Thos
wake1 s19oS G has B s Snarsn SS
s5,ooo, Eliza5eph h stroSsi. 5000; VIM. Neitzy:
Gown Gown. sioooo; VIM. b. beaii, COO; James i.
Petty, 5000; Sarah c. Richards, $1,000; John
Webster, 1000; Horace S. johnson, 5000; Ly-
man d. Lamb, 5000; owen Nugent, $4,000;
ThaddpuS A. HODkinS. 5000: VIM. Eepal.
$4,000; Martha Allen, 5000; James H. Rhodes,
5000; Franklin Bid, 5000; Rudolph Bud
$1,000 Mary ). smith, execStrix, 5000: RicSd
A. Walker, $1,000 Jonn L Fowler, $40 600; Eliza-
beth A. Dqncan oo0; Elias g. Caldwell $500
5000; total, $36O,0OO. They run in date from
August ~ 1s to November 1sih i last
the trial OF four cases was about three days each
and the expense OF each trial to the comp iainAnJ
further AYERS that other persons threaten TO nsL-
tute like proceedings against the complainant,
and that large number OF persons unlawruliy
combined together for the purpose OF haraSslng the
complainant by actions at law and otherwise, and
called themselves the 'SOuth washington Pro-
tective Association"
AYERS that it is authorized, by the said original
act OF incorporation ana the acts OF Congress to
use and maintain Its tracks, &c, without respon-
Sibility for damages to any private property. Tne
complainant further AYERS that IL has constructed
and is now using and maintaining six depOts or
stations for receiving and delivering freight in tine
city OF Washington, along the line VI its said rail-
road. TO each OF the said depOtS the complainant
has properly constructed and Is now using lateral
railroads leading from its main tracks, and II is
authorized by law to maintain said SidingS. with
out responsibility therefore for damages 70 any
private Individual
The complainant brings this bill in the nature
OF bill or peace to the end that all controversies
growing out OF the use and operation OF said rail-
road tracks sidings, turnouts, depots aud sta,
tons may be heard and determined at once, and
in one suit, and that protection may be Afforded
to complainant against an unlawful combina-